Peripheral and Central/Intraosseous Vasoactive Infusions During and After Pediatric Critical Care Transport: Retrospective Cohort Study of Extravasation Injury

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of adverse events related to vasoactive drug infusions administered via a peripheral venous catheter versus a central venous or intraosseous catheter.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: A pediatric critical care transport team, and the PICUs and regional hospitals within the North Thames and East Anglia regions of the United Kingdom.

Patients: Children (up to 18 yr old) transported by the Children's Acute Transport Service receiving an infusion of a vasoactive drug (epinephrine, dobutamine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin).

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: The medical records of all children transported between April 2017 and May 2020 receiving a vasoactive drug infusion were reviewed and cross-referenced with the service critical incident database. The outcome measure was anatomic catheter-related adverse events (including extravasation) reported during transport or in the first 24 hours on the PICU. During the study period, the service undertook 3,836 transports. Vasoactive drugs were administered during 558 patient transports (14.5%). During 198 of 558 transports (35.5%), vasoactive drugs were administered via a peripheral venous catheter, with seven of 198 (3.5%) adverse events. One extravasation event resulted in tissue necrosis. The median time to injury after the infusion was commenced was 60 minutes (interquartile range, 30-60 min). During 360 of 558 transports (64.5%), vasoactive infusions were administered by central venous or intraosseous catheter, with nine of 360 (2.5%) adverse events.

Conclusions: During pediatric critical care transport, we did not find a difference in prevalence of adverse events following the administration of vasoactive drugs via peripheral venous catheters or via central venous and intraosseous catheters.